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Local News for Friday 28th October 2016

Red Cross won’t be at island events – official.The British Red Cross will no longer provide first aid support at events held in the Western Isles, it was confirmed yesterday. Red Cross volunteers first heard the news and contacted MP Angus MacNeil. It’s now been confirmed by the British Red Cross formally to Mr MacNeil, who said: “It is very disappointing that the British Red Cross have taken this decision without prior consultation with the Red Cross volunteers or event organisers in the Western Isles. The volunteers feel that they and the people of the Western Isles, who so generously support the Red Cross, have been treated badly. “ Mr MacNeil looked ahead to a future without Red Cross support with concern, saying: “If events go ahead without first aid there could be negative consequences. Red Cross have withdrawn this provision from a remote, isolated, rural island community, without discussion or apparent care for the consequences. Volunteers, whilst bitterly disappointed with the attitude of the British Red Cross, are nevertheless looking positively to the future. They are currently engaged in discussion with another first aid provider.”

Local News for Thursday 27th October 2016

Church custodians slam ‘unwelcome’ visitorsCustodians of Point’s Eaglais na h-Aoidhe (Eye Church) are fuming after local visitors showed disrespect to one of the island’s most ancient buildings. The church, at the Point end of the Braighe, brings visitors from all over the world and has been carefully restored with public money and volunteer time. A spokesman for the Trust which manages the church has posted a notice, after vandals tore pages from the visitor’s book, defaced it with comments and burned the pages inside the church walls. The notice says: “Most of the people who come here respect what this special place has to offer. However, we have some unwelcome local visitors who have torn pages from the book, burned them in the Church and written inappropriate comments in the book. They sign themselves Krusty Ladd, B Mean and JM (Jack).” Anyone who has any information about these activities is asked to contact Point Community Shop.

Local News for Wednesday 26th October 2016

End of an era as Plasterfield shop closesAn era in island history comes to an end tomorrow as the Plasterfield store closes its doors for good. A social hub in the local community, the shop was famed for Mackinnon’s bakery goods including pies, tarts and cakes. The family-run bakery first opened in 1950 and, until this summer, also had a bakery shop on Point Street. Many tributes have been paid by customers past and present, especially to store manager Joey, who is retiring after 33 years behind the counter.

Local News for Tuesday 25th October 2016

Loch Seaforth off to dry dockThe MV Loch Seaforth has left Lewis for her annual overhaul and will reach dry dock in Birkenhead today. She’s due to be away until November 11th, and meanwhile the Hebridean Isles will be carrying out the freight run, which will run to an amended timetable. The MV Isle of Lewis is back on the Stornoway Ullapool route for the same period, and crossings will therefore take two hours and 45 minutes, but with quicker turn rounds should still run to timetable.

Local News for Monday 24th October 2016

Speeding drivers risk others’ safetySpeeding drivers are making island roads unsafe for other drivers, pedestrians and livestock, according to Stornoway police, after another weekend of shocking speeds detected on the roads. A man is to be reported to the Procurator Fiscal on a charge of dangerous driving, after he was caught riding a motorbike at 113mph on the Braighe, and three other drivers are to be reported after being detected at speeds up to 85mph over the weekend. A police spokesman said: “We are very disappointed that, despite widespread publicity for speeding charges, we are still seeiing drivers doing excessive speeds on island roads. It’s not only dangerous to themselves, but to other drivers and pedestrians. Proactive controls and speed checks will continue in order to keep the islands’ road users safe.”